An emerging Democratic coalition of women, minorities and younger voters is propelling Illinois
Sen. Barack Obama to leads of five to 17 percentage points over Arizona Sen. John McCain
among likely voters in the battleground states of Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin,
according to four simultaneous Quinnipiac University polls, conducted in partnership with The
Wall Street Journal and washingtonpost.com and released today.

Sen. McCain's lead among white voters in Colorado and Michigan cuts the gap to single
digits, but doesn't offset Sen. Obama's strength among other groups. The Democrat also leads
by eight to 21 percentage points among independent voters in each state. Overall results show:

Democrats would like Obama to pick Sen. Hillary Clinton as his running mate, but voters
overall reject the idea. Independent voters oppose Sen. Clinton by 16 to 29 percentage points.

"November can't get here soon enough for Sen. Barack Obama. He has a lead everywhere,
and if nothing changes between now and November he will make history," said Peter A. Brown,
assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"But Sen. Obama should not be picking out the drapes for the Oval Office just yet. His
lead nationally, and double digits in some key states, is not hugely different from where Sen. John
Kerry stood four years ago at this point in the campaign," Brown added.

"At this point, Sen. Obama has assembled what Democrats see as their victory coalition for
the future: young people, racial minorities and women, while remaining competitive - and in some
places ahead - among men and whites.

"There is a clear consensus among voters in all of these states that they don't want Sen.
Hillary Clinton as vice president and that they see her as a liability for Obama, not an asset."

Because of his age, 18 percent of Michigan voters are less likely to vote for McCain, and
79 percent say it doesn't matter. Obama's race won't affect their vote, 90 percent say.

For 56 percent of Michigan voters, the economy is the most important issue in November,
while 16 percent list the war in Iraq and 10 percent cite health care.

"Michigan is a blue-collar state with a large white, working-class vote, the kind of voters
with whom Sen. Obama had problems during the primaries. But at this point Sen. McCain isn't
doing nearly as well among that group as he needs to in order to carry Michigan," Brown said.
Minnesota

"Sen. Obama sweeps nearly every demographic group in Minnesota, including whites and
blue collar workers, to lead by 17 points, the biggest lead in the four states surveyed. At the same
time, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, with overwhelming support among men and a tie among
women, has a 10-point overall lead over comedian Al Franken, the Democratic challenger," said
Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Most voters say it would not make any difference in their vote if Gov. Tim Pawlenty is
McCain's running mate," Richards added.
Wisconsin

McCain's age won't affect their vote, 77 percent say, while 20 percent are less likely to
vote for him because of his age. Obama's race doesn't matter, 91 percent say.

The economy is the most important issue in their vote, 47 percent of Wisconsin voters say,
while 20 percent cite the war in Iraq and 14 percent list health care.

By a 7 - 4 percent margin, Wisconsin voters are less likely to vote Republican if Gov.
Pawlenty is the vice presidential candidate, while 81 percent say it won't affect their vote.

"Winning a majority of the white vote and leading among blue collar workers, Obama
leads by 13 points with eight in 10 voters saying their mind is made up in this campaign," Richards
said.

"While reports suggest having Gov. Pawlenty from neighboring Minnesota as a running
mate would give Sen. McCain an edge in Wisconsin, Badger State voters say having him on the
ticket would make little difference in how they vote."

From June 17 - 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed:

1,351 Colorado likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percent;

1,411 Michigan likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.6 percent;

1,572 Minnesota likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent;

1,537 Wisconsin likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.

These surveys of Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan are conducted in
partnership with The Wall Street Journal and washingtonpost.com.
For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you
vote?(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you
vote?(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you
vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you
vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

2a. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the
candidates were Mark Udall the Democrat and Bob Schaffer the Republican, for
whom would you vote? (If undecided q2) As of today, do you lean more toward
Udall or Schaffer? This table includes "Leaners". (CO only)

2a. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the
candidates were Al Franken the DFL candidate and Norm Coleman the Republican
candidate, for whom would you vote? (If undecided q2) As of today, do you lean
more toward Franken or Coleman? This table includes "Leaners". (MN only)

9a. If John McCain chooses Tim Pawlenty to be his vice-presidential running
mate, would that make you more likely to vote for McCain, less likely to vote
for McCain, or doesn't it make a difference? (MN & WI only)

18. As you may know, there is a proposed state constitutional amendment on the
November ballot. It says that the state shall not discriminate against or grant
preferential treatment to any group or individual on the basis of race, sex,
color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment,
public contracting, or public education. Do you think that you will vote for or
against this state constitutional amendment? (CO only)